Chapter 11 The good days of the Marquis of Changning's mansion are coming to an end.

Shen Chu's face was full of grief. "Grandson specially burned all the deeds to the farmland and estates that Grandmother had treasured over the years, so that Grandmother would not have to leave in a miserable state."

Madam Shen was so frightened that her hand trembled, and she almost actually hanged herself on the white silk.

"You...you just burned the deeds to my farmland and estate?"

Chen Chu nodded, "Oh, and the land deed for the hot spring estate in Qinghe, I also burned it for my grandmother."

Old Madam Shen trembled with heartache, "You bastard! You worthless scum, I should have strangled you back then!"

Chen Chu touched the ground with his head and shouted in a long, drawn-out voice:

Grandmother, may you rest in peace!

"My poor grandmother, how could you leave your children and grandchildren so soon..."

Old Madam Shen was almost sent away by Shen Chu's two cries of mourning.

She was both angry and anxious, and pointed at Chen Chu, wanting to yell at him, but she forgot that she was holding a white silk ribbon in her hand.

As soon as she loosened her grip, the white silk cord tightened around her neck, causing her eyes to roll back and she to faint.

Zhang Mama was startled and quickly instructed the maids and servants to put Old Madam Shen down and carry her back to Songshou Hall.

Silence returned to the area in front of the library.

Hongxiu couldn't help but clap her hands, "The old lady is going to be furious with you now, she probably won't bother you for a while."

Shen Chu nodded. "Has the land deed been settled?"

Hongxiu patted her chest with a smile, "Don't worry, I've already kept the land deeds safe."

Shen Chu chuckled softly.

That's right, what she just burned was a stack of fake land deeds.

The farmland and estates in the old lady's possession were either Aunt Qiao's dowry or purchased by Aunt Qiao later, and most of the land deeds were in Aunt Qiao's name.

The people of the Marquis's mansion cared about their reputation, so although they obtained the land deed, they only collected the profits from the estate and did not actually transfer the ownership to the government.

Shen Chu instructed, "Take these land deeds to the brokerage firm immediately, sell them as soon as possible, and then exchange them all for silver notes to deposit for your aunt."

When the people from the Marquis's mansion went to the government office to renew the land deeds, they discovered that those shops and estates no longer belonged to them.

Hongxiu asked with some worry, "If the Marquis finds out, will he punish you?"

Shen Chu sneered, showing no fear of Changning Marquis's punishment.

She made it to the capital alive, and the good days of the Marquis of Changning's mansion were about to end.

"Don't worry, even if he is punished, it won't be too harsh. After all, he still needs my glory to bring honor to the Shen family."

After giving his instructions, Shen Chu saw that it was still early and decided to go out.

She was going to the Ministry of Personnel to register for the civil service examination.

At the beginning of His Majesty's reign, the imperial examination system was revised. All successful candidates had to register with the Ministry of Personnel after passing the examination, and report their preferred department based on their own wishes and strengths. The Ministry of Personnel would then organize the unified selection examination.

After the imperial examinations, the Ministry of Personnel will report the examination results of all successful candidates to His Majesty, who will then assign them official positions based on their first choice of department.

Shen Chu had already decided which department she wanted to work for.

When she arrived at the Ministry of Personnel, the official in charge of registration was quite surprised to see her.

"The Marquis already came to the Ministry of Personnel at noon today to register Lord Shen. Why is Scholar Shen here again today?"

Shen Chu was surprised; no wonder the old lady was so fearless when she made a scene today.

It turns out that Marquis Changning had already gone to the Ministry of Personnel to register her.

The official in the Ministry of Personnel found Shen Chu's registration data and smiled, "Lord Marquis is registered in the Hanlin Academy. You are the top scholar, so there will be no problem for you to enter the Hanlin Academy."

Moreover, the top scholar entering the Hanlin Academy doesn't need to take the selection exam, so congratulations in advance to young Shen Hanlin!

Shen Chu frowned; she had no desire to go to the Hanlin Academy.

"Sir, could this document be re-registered?"

The official in charge of the Ministry of Personnel frowned. “Of course not. Each person can only register once. Besides, I have already reported that you will not participate in the selection examination, so the Ministry of Personnel will not prepare your examination paper.”

Therefore, she had no choice but to go to the Hanlin Academy.

Shen Chu clenched her fists to suppress her anger, and after careful consideration, she returned to her residence to find Marquis Changning.

Why did Father send someone to the Ministry of Personnel to register me for a position in the Hanlin Academy?

When Marquis Changning returned to his residence, he learned that the old lady had fainted from anger. He was about to look for Shen Chu when he heard him questioning him as soon as he entered the door, which made him furious.

“I am your father, why can’t I help you register? On the contrary, you should immediately go to your grandmother’s yard and kneel down to apologize.”

Shen Chu didn't move. "Did Father ask for my opinion before registering?"

Marquis Changning's face darkened. "What do you mean? What do you know, you little brat? The place I chose for you is naturally the best."

Do you think the Hanlin Academy is bad?

Shen Chu took a deep breath. "The Hanlin Academy is good, but it's not where I want to go. I want to go to the Censorate and become a Censor."

"Nonsense!"

Marquis Changning slammed his hand on the table and glared at Shen Chu with a stern face.

"Ignorant child, what's so great about being an Inspector General? You are a top scholar in the imperial examination. Go to the Hanlin Academy as a compiler, gain experience for a few years, and you might even be able to enter the Grand Secretariat in the future."

What can you get from going to the Censorate? The highest position you can reach is Left Censor-in-Chief, I disagree.

Shen Chu insisted, "I don't want to join the Hanlin Academy, nor do I want to join the cabinet. I have things I want to do."

"What right do you have to interfere in this matter?"

“This is my own life. Even if you enroll me in the Hanlin Academy, I won’t go.”

"You unfilial son, have you gone too far?"

Marquis Changning was furious and slapped him across the face.

Shen Chu did not dodge, and five bright red finger marks appeared on her face.

"Let me tell you, there's no room for negotiation on this matter. You have to go to the Hanlin Academy whether you like it or not."

“I’m doing this for your own good. If you can’t understand, then go kneel down in the yard.”

"Get up when you've figured it out."

She covered her face and knelt on the bluestone slab outside without saying a word.

Soon, the news that Shen Chu had been forced to kneel as punishment by the Marquis spread throughout the entire Marquis's residence.

Upon hearing this, Old Madam Shen felt no pain in her flesh, nor did her heart tremble. She instructed her maid to deliver a message to Marquis Changning:

“This unfilial son is disobedient and has repeatedly defied his elders. It is his fault for indulging him. This time, we must teach Shen Chu a lesson.”

After inquiring around, Chen heard that Shen Chu had clashed with Marquis Changning because he didn't want to go to the Hanlin Academy, and couldn't help but sneer.

"Since ancient times, the chief minister has come from the Hanlin Academy. The Hanlin Academy is a place where talents emerge in large numbers. When the Marquis asked him to go, he actually refused."

"Hmph, a bastard's offspring, utterly ignorant."

Madam Wang smiled and flattered, "Aunt Qiao comes from a merchant family, how can she compare to Madam? Your cousin is the Empress, and your maternal uncle is a vice minister in the Ministry of Justice. Our young master will surely have a bright future."

Madam Chen smiled and said, "Go and send someone to deliver Yan'er's recent studies at the academy to the Marquis, so that the Marquis will remember Yan'er's good qualities."

After reviewing the homework that Chen had sent to Shen Yan, the Marquis of Changning's expression darkened even further.

He stood at the door of the study, looking down at Chen Chu, "Look how obedient Yan'er is. After failing the imperial examination, he went to the academy to study hard."

Look at yourself, you've only just become the top scholar, yet you've repeatedly contradicted your elders.

Relying on his own talent, he didn't even respect the Hanlin Academy.

"After kneeling for so long, have you finally figured it out?"

Shen Chu lowered her eyes, silently calculating the time in her mind.

When she went out in the afternoon, Aunt Qiao also went to the street to inspect the shops. Judging by the time, she should be back soon.

If Aunt Qiao saw Marquis Changning hitting her, whose side would she take?

Her mind was in turmoil, and after the Marquis of Changning finished his rant, she said curtly, "I don't want to go to the Hanlin Academy."

"You!" Marquis Changning raised his hand again in anger.

"Tsk, it's quite lively here, Marquis. It seems I've come at the wrong time?" A smiling voice suddenly came from the doorway.

Shen Chu felt a sudden chill run down his spine and turned to look.